Bridle-bit.



No. 660,923. Patented oct. so, |900.`

' J. PuncELL.

muLEv BIT.

' \Application Bled Apr. 9 1900. (no model.)

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UNiTnpD STATES PATENT FFICE.

JAMES PURcELL, or wiNoNA, NORTH DAKOTA.

RIDLE-BIT.

sPncIFIcATxN forming part of Letters Patenflvo. 660,923, dated october's, 1906.

Application sied Aprii 9, 1900.

To all whom, t may concern:

Be it known that I, J AMES PURCELL, a citizen of the United States,residing at Winona, in the county of Emmons and State of North Dakota,have invented certain-new and useful lmprovementsin Bridle-Bits; and Ido hereby declare the following to be afull, clear,

'and eXact description of the invention, suchv as will enable othersskilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to improvements in bridle-bits, and particularlytothat class of bridle-bits known as curb-bits.

My invention is intended to produce a bit which may possess thequalities of both a straight or easy bit and a curb-bit.

My invention will be understood by reference to theaccompanyingdrawings, wherein the same parts are indicated by the saine lettersthroughout the several views.

Figure l represents a perspective View of a portion oi" a bitembodyingmy invention, but one side bar being `shown and parts being broken awayto more clearly illustrate the interior construction. Fig. 2 is a frontelevation of the parts shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a section raken online 3 3 in Fig. l looking in lthe direction of the arrow; and Fig. 4 isa front elevation of the bit complete, the same being shown on a muchsmaller scale than the other iigures of the drawings.

A represents one of the side bars of the bit, this side bar beingprovided at its upper end with a loop or ring A0 for the reception ofthe cheek-straps A2and the curb-chain A3 and havinga depending extensionA' below the bit-bar B, the said extension A being set at the slightangle backward from the general line of the side bar A, as will be seenin Fig. 1. The said extension Al has at its lower end a curved hooka',extending toward the front of the bar. The lower ends oftheextensions A may, if desired, be connected by means of a cross-rod b,for stiffening and strengthening the same; but this cross-bar is notessential. Upon the forward side of the bar A is formed or fixed ahollow cylinder C. Within this cylinder is located a coil-spring C0,held under tension therein, said spring being seated at the lower end cof the cylinder and being movable at its upper end o, and being retainedwithin lthe Lipper portion of the cylinder by means of a cap o0,

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ierial No. 12g`211. (No model.)

. closely, but easily, within the said cylinder,

and against which the upper end o of the coil-spring C0 bears. The lowerend of the chain D extends through the lower end of the i cylinder,which is open and is connected to a sliding lock E having a groove e(seen in Fig. 3) upon its rear face for engaging with the forward edgeof the inclined extension A', along which said block slides accordinglyas the chain is drawn outor retracted, under the influence ofthe rein orthe spring G0. 'lo this sliding block E is pivotally connected a link F,carrying a ring F0 for the reception of one end of the bridle-rein F2.This link F has an o'peningftherethrough whichincloses-the extension Aoi the side barof the bit and serves as arguide for the sliding block E;The extension A' preferably `tapers from its upper end, which isapproximately at the lower end of the cylinder, toward its lower end,its width from front to rear at its upper end being sufficient to fitclosely within the link F and prevent undue rattling of the parts.

The sliding block Ehas a circular plate or disk E' upon its upper side,and upon this circular plate or disk E' is secured a disk or washer E2,of some soft material, such as leather or rubber, said disk or washer E2constituting a gasket which closes securely the lower end of thecylinder C against the entry of moisture, grit, or other foreignsubstances that would be likely to injure the spring when the chain isretracted.

The operation of the device is as follows: When in its normalposition-that is to say, when there is no excessive strain upon thereins of the bridlethe chain D is retained almost or quiteentirelywithin the cylinder, and the sliding block E and the link F,pivoted thereto, are held in a position near to the mouth-bar B. In thisposition the leverage upon the mouth-bar B is small and the effect ofthe bit on the horses mouth is mild; but as the pull upon the reinsincreases the sliding block and chain will be drawn downwardly inproportion to the degree of eXcess- IOO ive pull required, and as thesaid sliding block, carrying with it the pivoted link F, movesdownwardly along the extension A of the cheek-bar A the leverage uponthe mouth` bar Bis increased. In this manner the severity of the bitadjusts itself automatically as occasion requires in controlling theanimal.

The hooked end u. of the extension A will arrest the downward movementof the link F and the sliding block E when these reach their downwardlimit and will prevent their being pulled over the end of the saideXtension and displaced.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secureby Letters Patent p of the United States, is-

l. In a bridle-bit, the combination of the mouth-bar and side barsrigidly connected thereto, said side bars extending toward oppositesides ot' the said month-bar, a hollowr cylinder fixed along the upperportion of each side bar, and coil-springs inclosed within saidcylinders, links inclosing the lower extensions ot' said side bars, saidlinks being provided with connections for the reins, a follower withinthe upper portion of each of said cylinders and fiexible connectionsbetween the said links and the said followers, the said springs actingnormally to elevate said links, substantially as described.

2. In a bridle-bit, the combination of the mouth-bar and side barsrigidly connected thereto, said side bars extending toward oppositesides of the said mouth-bar, a hollow cylinder fixed along the upperportion of each side bar, and coil-springs inclosed within saidcylinders, linksinclosing thelowerextensions of said side bars, saidlinks being provided with connections for the reins, a follower withinthe upper portion of each of said cylinders and flexible connectionsbetween the said links and the said followers the said springs actingnormally to elevate said links, a removable cap closing the upper end ofeach of said cylinders and a yielding disk carried by said flexibleconnection arranged to close the lower end of each 0l said cylinders,substantially as described.

3. In a bridle-bit, the combination with the mouth-bar and side barsrigidly connected to the ends thereof, said side bars extending t0- wardopposite sides of said mouth-bar and inclined rearwardly at the lowerends; closed cylinders carried upon the upper portions of said side barsand coil-springs mounted under tension in said cylinders; of linksinclosing the lower extensions of said side bars and movable therealong,followers within said cylinders, chains connected to the said followerswithin the upper portions of said cylinders; sliding blocks connected tosaid chains outside said cylinders, and pivotally connected to the saidlinks, substantially as described.

4. ln a bridle-bit,'the combination with the mouth-bar and side harsrigidly connected to the ends thereof, said side bars extending towardopposite sides of said mouth-baraud inclined rearwardly at the lowerends; closed cylinders carried upon the upper portions ot' said sidebars and'coilfslin'ings mounted under tension in said cylinders; oflinks inclosing the lower extensions of said side bars and movabletherealong, followers within said cylinders, chains connected to thesaid followers within the upper portions of said cylinders: slidingblocks connect-ed to said chains outside said cylinders and pivotallyconnected to the said links, means for closing,r the ends of saidcylinders against the entry of moisture or other foreign matter, substantially as described.

p In testimony whereof I alix my signature in presenceV of twowitnesses.

JAMES PURCELL. Vitnesses:

R. B. MACOMBER, M. J. ANDRUs.

